Fort Erie native Matt Matheson is part of a group, but he is one all on his own too.

The 30-year-old Lakeshore Catholic High School graduate has lived in Toronto since his early 20's, after taking culinary courses at Humber College.

Today, he is a popular chef in the big city and recently represented Canada at the esteemed James Beard House in New York City, in a collective of chefs that is known as the 'Group of Seven.'

Once a month for the last two years, Matheson and six other chefs have been hosting events at their respective restaurants in Toronto and have been receiving rave reviews and a hearty amount of media attention.

On his own, Matheson has appeared on a handful of TV shows such as one called Oddbits, which focuses on the preparation of unique cuts of meat.

In his appearance, he explained to viewers how to cook cow testicles.

But being on TV isn't that important to him, especially compared to being invited to a function at the James Beard Foundation.

"It's like the Stanley Cup, the biggest accolade for a chef," he said.

Matheson, who grew up in the Crescent Park neighbourhood while living in Fort Erie, has also appeared in comedian Kenny Hotz's show 'Triumph of the Will,' where he prepared a peculiar dish that had to be blurred out due to Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission standards.

"He's a real good friend of ours," said Matheson about Hotz, who is most popular for the hit TV series 'Kenny vs. Spenny.'

Other popular chefs from around the world are planned to be working with and hosting functions with the Group of Seven he said and looks forward to it all.

"We're like ambassadors to Canada."

He is the head chef at Parts and Labour, a restaurant on Queen Street, which has also been featured in many Toronto-based and national publications.

Matheson's sense of humour and fun-loving attitude is what he says might have a role in him being invited on to various TV shows, but it's also his skills in the kitchen of course.

"I just say whatever I want and people like that because I can back it up," he said.

He described his style of cooking as the type that still makes people that they are getting their money's worth, while making them feel at home at the same time, in a way.

"I'm known for hearty, Canadian food."

Matheson appeared as a guest on a recent season of the Food Network's Top Chef Canada and will be appearing on E-Talk next week to talk about all things culinary.

He has also appeared in numerous music videos by artists like Alexisonfire and Cancer Bats.